Morning Scents

I can remember when I used to already be asleep at this time of day. I miss that. I also miss having enough time in the afternoons to take a walk. Lack of exercise is causing my joints to stiffen up.On the other hand, I do enjoy watching the forest emerge from darkness and hearing the birds come awake. The scent of the air changes with first light, too. The fragrance of the jasmine vanishes and damp, earthy smell emerges. I think it is the rapid drop in temperature which occurs at this hour that causes the change. By the time I wake this afternoon, the warmth will have filled the air with the scent of pine resin. It might be possible to determine the hour of day or night by smell alone. But right now, all I want to smell is the clean sheets of my freshly changed bed.

Boom!

A couple of nights ago it was lightning without thunder. This afternoon, it has been thunder without lightning. I hear it rolling from the mountains, and it sounds like the purrs of a giant cat. The day has been mostly gray and muggy, the sun being very warm during its rare appearances. It does feel as though there might be a bit of rain later this evening. At the moment, the sky has a yellow cast which pales the green of the leaves and lends an eerie glow to the still air. The flowers of the sourgrass are all closed, and the night blooming jasmine is flooding even the day with its wanton perfume. I think I'll go out and pick some more cherries, in case the rain comes and turns out to be copious. Ah, there goes another peal of thunder. Time to shut Sluggo down.